Combination mop and brush



Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION MOPUAND BRUSH Joseph Kalinowski, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 20, 1949, Serial No. 122,514

' 2 oaima- (c. 15--115') My invention relates to a new and useful combination mop and brush and has for one of its objects to provide a nove1 cleaning appliance that can be employed for both loosening or breaking up spots of material which adhere to the surfaces of floors, linoleum or the like, and cleaning such surfaces with a mopping action. Where only a mop is used, it is difficult to remove adhering spots of foreign material but with the prescnt structure most spots can be loosened or brushed free by the bristles and the water or other cleaning uid and loosened material taken up by the mop. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and unique combination of mop and brush or scrubbing element Which can be economically manufactured and be strong and durable.

A further object of the present invention is to construct a brush unit having nove1 features and to utilize a single fastening for attaching the mop and said brush unit to the handle socket and the appliance.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a combination mop and brush constructed in accordance with my invention. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the mop head looking down on the open end of the socket with the handle removed.

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the brush unit.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 5 represents a conventional handle socket comprised of two similar semi-cylindrical sections 6 having thread elements 1 formed thereon. Preferably the thread elements are segmental threads stamped up from the metal of said sections. Each socket section has a plurality of spaced eyes 8 formed along the longitudinal edges and located so that the eyes of one socket section mesh with the companion ones of the other socket section.

The brush or scrubbing unit 9 consists of a tubular back ID, elliptical in cross section, with '2 the inner ends of the bristles H secured in said back. The forward end of the tubular back Vis disposed at a suitable angle as indicated at I2, whereby the exposed ends of the bristles project in an obliqueidirection to the major portion of saidtubular back. The tubular back may be economically and conveniently produced by forming Aitfrom a piece of metal tubing flattened to the desired dimensions. Preferably a single hole |3 is formed in the brush'running through both flat walls of the oval tubular back and the bristles, slightly to the rear of the oblique end 12 of said back. Actually, the bristles need not be severed in the formation of the hole but merely fiexed aside in the region of the hole in the`` back, which hole includes the apertures in the two fiat walls of said back.

The mop il4 consists of strands of any suitable absorbent material and these strands are folded, approximately midway their ends over the cross bar I5 of a long wire staple IB preferably with a strip I' of cushioning material, such as felt for example, positioned between the cross bar of the staple and the adjacent mop strands to reduce the tendency of severing or weakening said mop strands which Would otherwise be directly engaged by the cross bar of said staple.

One leg |8 of the staple is projected through the hole l3 in the brush and the other leg 19 is disposed adjacent the rear end of the brush and both legs then passed through aligned eyes 8 of the handle socket sections and the protruding ends of said legs bent over the edges of the uppermost eyes at 20 to fasten all parts together in proper assembled relation. It is to be particularly noted that the brush is interposed between the mop and the handle socket with the free bristle ends projecting beyond what may be termed one side of said mop and all of said elements secured in place by a single fastening device consisting of the wire staple.

In practice, the mop is brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned and moved thereover in the well known manner. Should spots, of material that adhere rather firmly to the surface, appear on the surface being cleaned which the mop Will not remove, the cleaning appliance is turned until the free ends of the brush bristles project downwardly and, preferably, slightly forwardly, as depicted in Fig. 1, so that said bristles will contact the surface being cleaned. By reciprocating the brush over the spot forming substance, said brush, which has comparatively stiff bristles, Will loosen or break up the foreign substance so that it can be gathered up by the mop,

When the functions of the brush are not needed the Whole appliance is rotated until the brush is positioned out of contact with the surface being cleaned, as to one side or to the top of the rnop.

For manipulating the appliance a handle 2! is removably inserted in the socket 5 and during use of the device said handle is maintained at a suitable angle to the surface being cleaned to exert a downward and forward pressure when either the mp o'r brush'is being used.A

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without deprting fr'ori the spirit of my invention. l

Having described my inventioi what I cl'ain as new and useful is: V

1. In a device of the kind described, a handle socket having eyes at opposite sides there'of, said socket adapted to receive a handle in its oute' nd, a brush 'unit dispos'd against the bu'osite or ihne' end or' said socket, 'l brush 'unit i:- cluding a tubular back of flattened llip'tical formatibh in cross Vsecti'on and havii'y one end disposd at an aii'l lto the balance ther'eof and Rfurthi* provided with a hole through the fiattened 'wall 'slig'htl to the jea; of the :iigular end with bristls ied in said back and having 'en'ds proti'udiiig' fi-'om said anula' end of iid opposite the end fr'n which the bristles protrude and both es p-ojet'egi through eyes en the handle socket and bent to fsten the parts to- 4 gether whereby said brush unit is secured in place and is prevented from rotating about the staple leg projecting through the brush unit.

2. A scrubbing and mopping device, comprising a handle socket having eyes on dianetrically opposite exterior sides thereof, a staple having its bite disposed beyond one end of said socket in spaced relation thereto and the legs of said staple inounted in said eyes, st-ands of mop material within 'the bit'e of said staple, and a brush unit including 'a fi'attened tbular back elliptical in cross section and b'istles filling said back with 'ends thereof protruding from only one end of said back and the latter having a hole through the flattened walls adjacent the end from Which the bi'istles brbtrude, said brush unit back being disposed directlyh between the handle socket and mop strands with ne leg of the staple passing through the hole and the other leg engaging the end of the brush unit back opposite to that from which the bi'istles protrude whereby said brush unit is seeured in place vand i-s prevented from ro=1 tating about the staple leg p'ojecting through the brush unit.

JOSEPH KALINOWSKI.

nef'emnees vcifea 'in 'the ffi'e 'of this patent 'NIT'ED STA'TES 'PATENTs 

